10 books to help develop critical thinking

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Learn to distinguish between falsehood and truth, and facts from prejudice.

1. "A guide to lies. Critical Thinking in the Post-Truth Era ", Daniel Levitin

Daniel Levitin, an American psychologist, scientist and writer, knows how easy it is to deceive the average person. Lies are skillfully covered with facts and presented as the ultimate truth. Disinformation today has become a powerful tool in the formation of political and social strategy.

The author tells how to recognize manipulations with information and assess it sensibly in order not to be pulled into a web of lies.

2. "Defense from the Dark Arts", Alexander Panchin

Alexander Panchin, Russian biologist, popularizer of science, science journalist and writer, in his new book shows that behind age-old fears and prejudices are quite real laws of physics, psychology and biology. The author lucidly and very convincingly debunks what millions of people around the world believed and continue to believe today.

A book from the category "clever in simple words" will help you keep your sane mind in the age of the supernatural craze.

3. “I am manipulating you. Methods of countering latent influence ", Nikita Nepryakhin

Writer, business coach, author of books and radio host Nikita Nepryakhin believes that we believe too much in our own invulnerability. We think that we are smart enough that it is almost impossible to deceive us. And over and over again we step on the same rake, becoming victims of experienced manipulators. The author describes in detail the scenarios of the most common tricks that are actively used by both the media and politicians.

The book will become a desktop for those who are tired of being a victim of someone else's influence. Readers will also learn to resist the most sophisticated manipulations.

4. “A world full of demons. Science is like a candle in the dark ", Carl Sagan

American astronomer and astrophysicist Carl Sagan has been popularizing science for many years. His latest book, presented on our list, is devoted to the human mind and pseudoscientific stupidity, more precisely, the fight against it.

Little green men, yeti, Loch Ness monster, reincarnation, transmigration of souls - the list of what people stubbornly believe in is endless. Sagan exposes popular myths and prejudices that are holding us back.

The book will become a textbook of common sense, which is worth having at hand for every reasonable person.

5. “Game theory. The Art of Strategic Thinking in Business and Life ", Avinash Dixit, Barry Neilbuff

The interaction of people is very much like a game. The authors of the book, Princeton University professor Avinash Dixit and Yale School of Management professor Barry Neilbuff are convinced of this. They call strict strategic thinking the art of predicting the next move of the person with whom the game is currently being played. This takes into account that the enemy is also busy studying the opponent.

Understanding game theory will help you shape a new outlook on life and become more successful.

6. "How to Lie With Statistics" by Darell Huff

We believe in statistics unconditionally. The numbers plunge us into hypnosis, and we carry our money and give our vote to the one who provides more convincing data. But what does statistics actually sell us? Darell Huff, an American writer and lecturer, in his only book that became an instant worldwide bestseller, explores the ways in which statistics are misused to manipulate society.

The work is written in a living language and is intended for non-specialists and people far from statistics.

7. "People and Beasts: Myths and Reality", Olga Arnold

Olga Arnold, a writer, psychotherapist and biologist, easily and with humor debunks popular myths and legends about animals, which are still passed from mouth to mouth to this day. The author provides a scientific substantiation of the importance of animals in human life and clearly shows what an imprint on nature leaves the smallest human intervention. The book will help readers to figure out where the truth is, and where is the lie, which sources can be trusted and which cannot.

8. “How the Universe Works. Introduction to modern cosmology ", Sergei Parnovsky

To stop believing charlatans, you need to study primary sources, including the work of scientists. Fascinating and humorous about cosmology, which recently turned 100 years old, says Sergei Parnovsky, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, professor at Kiev Polytechnic University. How the Universe was formed, what is dark matter and a black hole, how the theory of relativity works - the book will become a bridge connecting popular and true science.

9. “From atoms to tree. Introduction to modern life science ", Sergey Yastrebov

Sergei Yastrebov, biologist, science journalist, writer, lucidly talks about what worries the masses and how they are manipulated.

What is the genetic code, how viruses work, is sugar really dangerous, why coffee excites, and glycine soothes, is monosodium glutamate harmful and is fructose useful - the book contains answers to the most popular questions that have helped us all for many years are misleading.

10. “I don’t believe! How to See the Truth in a Sea of Misinformation ", John Grant

Scientific discoveries are often used to deceive people. John Grant, an American writer and editor, is convinced of this. Critical thinking will help to understand the sea of information. Using the example of the most famous scandalous stories, the author shows how easy it is to manipulate us and how quickly we succumb to provocations. You will get acquainted with the most common patterns of lies and learn how to resist information attacks.